Myanmar to defend title in ASEAN Championship women soccer match

YANGON, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar women's soccer team will defend its title in the fourth ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Championship women's soccer tournament in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in October, according to the Myanmar Football Federation (MFF) Monday.

Myanmar women's soccer team, which was the defending champion of the 2007 ASEAN Championship tournament, together with host Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos and Malaysia will be in Group (A), while newcomer Australia, 24th SEA (Southeast Asian) Games defending title holder Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines will be in Group (B) in the 2008 ASEAN Championship women's soccer tournament scheduled on Oct. 6-20, the MFF said.

It will be the second competition for the Myanmar women's soccer team this year. Myanmar competed in the 2008 Asian Cup women's football second qualifying round in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from March 24 to 28, defeating Iran 2-1, losing Chinese Taipei 0-3 and host Vietnam 0-1 respectively and not qualified for the 2008 Asian Cup women's football tournament final-stage.

Meanwhile, Myanmar women's soccer team lost to Vietnam 1-2 in the semi-final and finished third in the last 24th SEA Games in Thailand in December 2007.

Myanmar women team crowned in the third ASEAN Championship women's soccer tournament, participated by eight national women's soccer teams from the ASEAN -- Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- at the Thuwunna Youth Training Center here in September 2007 after beating Thailand 5-2 with the penalty shootouts in the final.

Myanmar triumphed in the first ASEAN Championship tournament in Vietnam in October 2004 by defeating hosts in the final with penalty shootouts.

However, Myanmar lost to Vietnam in the final of the 23rd SEA Games in Manila, the Philippines, in 2005.

Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and the invited Chinese Taipei teams featured in the second ASEAN Championship tournament in Vietnam in May 2006. Myanmar lost to Thailand 2-3, Chinese Taipei 0-3 and host Vietnam 0-1 respectively in the tournament.